Vacuum cleaner nozzle



June 26, 1962 N. ||f NlLssoN 3,040,368

VACUUM CLEANER -NOZZLE Filed Sept. 18, 1959 I Y l 5 Sheets-Shet 1 L;frein/fr June 26, 1962 1 N. H. NlLssoN 3,040,368

VACUUM CLEANER NozzLE Filed Sept. 18, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ./fmVFn i:inn In 64 INVENTOR.

June 26, 1962 N. H. NlLssoN 3,040,368

VACUUM CLEANER NozzLE Filed S'ept. 18. 1959 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 aINVENToR.

United States Patent() 3,048,368 VACUUM CLEANER NZZLE Nils HerbertNilsson, Stockholm, Sweden, assigner to Aktiebolaget Electrolux,Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Sept. 18, 1959, Ser.No. 840,895 Claims priority, application Sweden Sept. 25, 1958 '14Claims. (Cl. 15-373) This invention relates to vacuum cleaner nozzles.

It is an object of the invent-ion to provide an improved multi-purposevacuum cleaner nozzle.

It is a `further object of the invention to provide a multi-purposenozzle which is both reliable and simple to operate.

Still another object of the invention 4is to provide an improved nozzlehaving relatively movable parts which are selectively arranged indifferent operating positions in a very simple manner.

To achieve the above and other of its objectives, the inVen-t-ioncontemplates the connecting of the relatively movable operational par-tsof a vacuum cleaner nozzle by special means which enable these movableparts to be displaced relatively by the selective application of forcesthereto, said means having stable conditions only when one or the otherof said parts is in operative position and -being otherwise in anunstable condition due to which it urges one of said parts into anoperative position.

It is a feature of Ithe invention that the above-indicated forces may:be readily and Vconveniently -applied by an operator.

It is a further feature of the invention that said special meansprovides for maintaining the movable parts in relative attitudes bymeans of which the nozzle is adapted to perform different types ofoperations.

Other objects and features of the invention will be found in thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment `as illustratedin the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a vacuum cleaner nozzleprovided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thel invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates, partially broken away, the vacuum cleaner nozzle ofFIG. 1 in a modified operating condition;

FIG. 3 is `an endv sectional view corresponding to `the illustration ofFIG. l and further illustrating a suction tube connected with thenozzle; n

FIG. 4 is an end sectional view corresponding to that illustrated inFIG. 3 but with the elements of the nozzle arranged in .the operatingcondition illustrated by FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top view, partially broken away, of said vacuum cleanernozzle; and

FIGS. 6 to 1l illustrate respectively the manner in which the vacuumcleaner nozzle of FIGS. 1 to 5 is manipulated.

A first operative condition of the vacuum cleaner nozzle of theinvention is illustrated in FIGS.' 1 `and 3. Referring to these figures,as well as to FIG. 5, it is seen that the nozzle of the inventioncomprises a first or inner suction section 12 and an outer suctionsection 14. Sections 12 and 14 are movable relative to one another andare adapted to assume different relative positions or attitudes whichconstitute different operating conditions lfor said nozzle. Moreparticularly, section 12 can assume a first relative attitude withrespect to section 14 whereby section 12 is 4retracted into section 14so lthat the latter section is operative; and, alternatively, section 12may assume a relative attitude with respect to section 14 wherebysection 12 protrudes and is the operative member for purposes ofperforming a vacuuming operation.

l ICC toothed section, as will hereinafter .become apparent, canv alsobe placed into an operative position.

Outer section 14 is also in the form of a hood. This hood flaresoutwardly into a neck portion 32 within which is accommodated the upperpart 24 of the inner section 12. Part 24 extends outwardly through neckportion 32 to a greater or lesser extent depending on which of sections12 and 14 isl in operative position.

Inner Isection 12 defines a circular bearing 34 (FIG. 3) in which isaccommodated a pivot member 36 which is integral with a suction oroutlet tube 38. A bolt 4G` is provided to engage pivot member 36 so asto maintain -tube 38 pivotally connected with inner section 12.Moreover, arcuate guides 39 are provided to confine tube. 38.

The lowermost extremities 42 and 44 of tube 38 define the .tubes suctionopening 46. Upper parts 48 and 50 of tube 38, however, function to closeoff the tube 38 in lthe upward direction. This effectively permits onlyvone of the mouths 22 or 28 to be operative, depending on which islowermost and therefore coupled to opening 46.

Mounted on the upper surface of section 14 are two foot plates 52 and 54which are retained in position by means of bolts 56 and 58. Bolt 58extends downwardly into a framework 6i) -fixed internally o f section14. Bolt 56 extends internally of section 14 into a weighted member 62which is afiixed internally of the section 14. Member 62 causes thenozzle to tilt about tube 38 when the nozzle is lifted-from the oor andthus assists transferring the vacuuming operation from mouth 22 to mouth28 and vice versa.

Depending from section 14 are groups of bristles 64 which cooperativelydefine slots 66. The lower extremities-of bristles 64 vdefine a commonplane which is hereinafter referred to as Ithe brushing plane 68. Thisplane coincides with the surface to be cleaned when section 14 is theoperative member.

Bristles 64 are retained in a channel member 78 (FIG. 3) of invertedsubstantially U-shaped cross-section, the channel 70 being retained inposition against the section 14 by means of a peripheral resilientmember 72 which additionally constitutes a bumper.

As stated above, sections 12 and 14 are movable relative to one another.They are, however, connected by means which guides the movement ofsections 12 and 14 relative to one another and by means which assists incontrolling the relative movements of said sections.

For purposes of guiding the movement of the sections relative to oneanother, there is provided a guide member or yoke 74 having a' centersection 76 pivotally mounted on outer section 14. For example, thecenter section 76 may be retained in position on section 14 betweenperipheral member 72 and a flange 78 (FIG. 3) provided on section 14.The yoke 74 is therefore `free to pivot about the axis defined by centersection 76.

The free ends 80 yand -82 of yoke 74 are bent inwardly towards oneanother `and are accommodated in elongated or `oval slots or apertures84 (FIG.. 3) provided in the inner section 12. 'Phe resiliency of yoke74 is suiiicient to assure a ready and permanent engagement of the yokewith the inner section 12, `the movement of which with respect tosection 14 is restricted by the yoke 74 as well as by the movement ofupper part24 in the neck portion 32 of section 14.

It is also to be noted that the inner section 12 is provided with aportion 86 which supports bearing 34. Portion 86 constitutes a stop orafbutment intended for contacting the upper surface of flange 78 forlimiting the downward movement of section 12 relative to section 14.Similarly, a peripheral resilient member 88 (FIG. 3) may be provi-dedinternally of the section 14 and supported on the latterk to provide anyabutment or stop intended to contact shoulders 90 of section 12 so asto limit upward movement of the l-atter said section.

Also connecting sections 12 and 14 are leaf springs 92 and 94 which areaccommodated on the one hand in two slots in section 12 and on the otherhand in slots respectively provided in members 62 and 60. Stated anotherway, the over-center leaf springs 92 `and 94 are arranged in compressionbetween the nozzle sections 12 and 14 and deflect laterally betweentheir ends in opposite directions from an intermediate `unstableposition to bias one or the other section to its surface-engagingposition. These leaf springs constitute bi-stable members or snapsprings which urge theV sections 12 and 14 into relative attitudeswhereby one or the other of these sections is in operative position.'Ihese springs, further, each have a dead center position which is aposition in which the springs are mechanically unstable. The springswhen in the dead center position tend to urge one of sections 12 and 14towards operative position and further tend to resist relative mofvementof sections 12 Iand 14 when either of the latter is in operativeposition.

More specifically, leaf springs 92 and 94 lare curved or S-shapedsprings fabricated from beryllium copper or the like. These springsconstitute and are exemplary of the special means which are employed bythe invention to facilitate the maintaining of sections 12 and 14 in theaforenoted relative attitudes.

FIGS. 1 and 3 are illustrative of the relative attitude of sections 12and 14 whereby section 12 is retracted or withdrawn into section 14. Theoperative surface of the nozzle under these circumstances corresponds toibrushing plane 68 so that section 14 is the operative member. In FIGS.2 and 4, however, section 12 extends or protrudes downwardly out ofsection 14 so that section 12 is then yadapted to engage the surface tobe cleaned and section 12 is thus the operative member in theserfigures.

In this last noted working condition, it will be noted that neck portion32 of section 14 is spaced from upper part 24 of section 12 and definestherewith a gap 96 (FIG. 2). In the working condition illustrated inFIG. l, however, neck portion 32 `and upper part 24 are incontacting'relationship at 98.

In FIG. 4, it is to be noted that shoulders 90 are spaced from stop 88whereas section 86 is in contact with flange 78. The movement limitingfunctions of ele- Vments 78 and 88 in cooperation with elements 86 and90 will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4.

When the section 12 moves from the position illustrated in FIG. l to theposition illustrated in FIG. 2, it moves through a critical positioncorresponding to the dead center position of the springs 92 and 94. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention this critical position occurswhen the lower extremity 98 of section 12 coincides with brushing plane68. When the section 12 is in this position, the snap action of springs92 and 94 will not permit section 12 to remain stationary and will tendto urge section 12 into one of the positions illustrated respectively inFIGS. 1 Iand 2.

Portions 18 and 20 of section 12 are angularly disposed las aforesaid.More particularly, section 12 is adapted for moving in a direction Drelative to section 14 or in a direction opposite thereto. Sections 18and 20 have surfaces which dene an iacute angle 100 with direction D fora purpose which will be clarified hereinafter with reference to FIGS.6-ll.

FIG. 6 illustrates an operating condition of the nozzle corresponding toFIGS. 1 and 3. In FIG. 6, bristles 64 provide the operative surfacewhich corresponds to a surface or object 102 which is to be cleaned.Suction tube 38 is connected toa wand 104 of an associated vacuumcleaner (not shown). Section 12 extends upwardly through section 14 toits fullest extent so that members 18 and 20 are spaced from surface102. This operative condition is for cleaning a hard surface such as afloor or the like.

If the nozzle is to be used for cleaning a rug having a thick pile, itis more desiralble that the solid members 18 and 20 be employed forpurposes of contacting the surface to be cleaned. FIG. 7 illustrates thedepressing of section 12 by means of the foot 106 of the vacuum cleaneroperator. In order that the bristles 64 will be capable of constitutinga support for this operation, they are preferably collectively strongerthan springs 92 and 94.

More particularly, FIG. 7 illustrates that the lower extremity 98 ofsection 12 has been displaced downwardly in the direction of Iarrow 108to a position whereat it coincides with the brushing plane dened bybristles 64. A further movement of sections 18 and 20 into the pile ofthe carpet will cause springs 92 Iand 94 to be urged past their deadcenter positions so that section 12 will snap into the position whereatits members 18 and 20 will protrude downwardly out of the section 14.

If the pile of the carpet or rug is insuiciently yieldable toaccommodate a penetration of members 18 and 20 so that the springs canbe forced past their dead center positions, the angular form of members'18 and 20 will facilitate matters. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the entirenozzle may be tilted so that one of the angular sections 18 or 20 issubstantially parallel to the surface 102. This permits an additionaldisplacement of section 12 which may then be urged past its criticalposition so that the springs take over and carry it to operativeposition. The operative position of section 12 with its members -18 and20 protruding from section 14 is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein it isapparent that bristles 64 are spaced from surface 102 and no longerperform a brushing function.

FIG. l0 illustrates the application of fonce by means of the operatorsfoot 106 to section 14. This application of force will cause the springs92 and 94 to pass through their dead center positions in a directionopposite to that indicated above. This will cause bristles 64 to moveinto koperative position as illustrated in FIG. ll.

It will be apparent from what has been stated above that the members 1'2and 14 are urgeable into two extreme relative attitudes whereby one orthe other of said sections is effective to perform a surface engagingfunction for a vacuum cleaning operation. The necessary .relativemovement is initiated by the application of an operators foot to one orthe other of sections 12 and 14. Initially, movement of the sectionsrelative to one another is resisted by springs 92 and 94. rIhis assuresthat working conditions will not be inadvertently changed. However, oncethese springs are forced t0 pass the critical dead center positions,they assume the duties of uirging sections '12 and 14 into their newrelative attitudes. This causes the previously inoperative member tobecome operative and relegates the previously operative member toinoperative status.

It will be appreciated that sections 12 and 14 are pivotal in unisonabout tube 38 in a manner such that toothed section 30 and suction mouth28 are placed in lowermost operative position. This enables the nozzleto provide still another condition of operation in conjunction with theoperating conditions which have been noted above.

Theinvention thus provides a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle whichis easyvto operate. and is of simple construction.' It will be notedthat the nozzle ofthe invention comprises relatively movable parts whichlare readily assembled and'that these'members are relativelydisplaceable byforces which are conveniently applied by an operator. f YThere will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications.and variations of the structure set forth. These modifications andvariations will not, however, depart from the scope of the invention ifthey /are defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination kof twoworking elementsfor engaging surfaces to be cleaned, said elements beingmovable with respect to each other between first relative positions inwhich one of said elements is in a surface-engaging position and theother of said elements is out of its surface-engaging position andsecond relative positions in which the other of Asaid elements is in asurface-engaging position and said one element is'oiitof'itssurface-engaging position, means connecting said elements for relativemovement with respect to each other between said first and secondrelative position, said connecting. means including resilient meansarranged in compression between said oneand other elements and laterallymovable intermediate its ends to two operating positionsat oppositesides of an unstable intermediate position, said resilient means in oneof said two operating positions being deflected laterally in onedirection from its unstable position to bias said one element to itssurface-engaging position and effect movement of said other element toits out-of-surfaceengaging position and in the other of said twooperating positions being deflected in an opposite direction from itsunstable position to bias said other element to its surfaceengagingposition and efect movement of' said one element -to itsout-of-surface-engaging position.

2. In a multi-purpose elongatedvacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination oftwo elongated working elements for engaging surfaces to be cleaned, saidelements being movable with respect to each other between first relativepositions in which one of said elements is in a surfaceengaging positionand the other of said elements is out of its surface-engaging positionand second relative positions in which the other of said elements is ina surfaceengaging position and said one element is out of itssurface-engaging position, means connecting said elements for relativemovement withrespect to each other between said first and secondrelative positions, said connecting means including elongated springmeans arranged in compression between saidvone and other elements andlaterally movable intermediate its ends to two operating positions atopposite sides of an unstable intermediate position, means at a firstzone of said one element for connecting one end of said elongated springmeans thereto, means at a second zone of said other element forconnecting the opposite end of said elongated spring means thereto, saidelongated spring means in one of said two operating positions beingdeflected laterally in one direction from its unstable positionresponsive to downward force applied to said one element at the vicinityof said first zone while the nozzle is in engagement with the surface tobias said one element -to its surface-engaging position and effectmovement of said other element to its out-of-surface-engaging positionand in the other of said two operating positionsbeing deflected in anopposite direction from its unstable position responsiveto downwardforce applied to said other element at thevicinity of said second zonewhile Ithe nozzle is in engagement with the surface to bias said otherelement to its surfaceengaging position and effect movement of said oneelement to its out-of-surface-engaging position.

3. A nozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which said other Working elementcomprises 'bristles and an elongated side ofthe housing and includes apart projecting upward through the opening in the housing, said firstzone of said one element being adjacent to said part and said secondzone of said other element being at said housing.

v s 4. Anozzle as set forth in claim 2 in which said other workingelement includes stopV means for limiting the lateral deflecting of saidelongated spring means in each of itstwooperating positions, said stopmeans being'positioned to provide a spring force to bias said one andother elements to their surface-engaging position responsive lto lateraldefiecting of said elongated spring means in one and the oppositedirections,respectively, from its-unstable position. y I' 5. In amulti-purpose vacuum cleaner nozzle, the combination of first andvsecond Working elements'for engaging surfaces to :be cleaned, saidelements being movable with respect to each other between first relative'positions in which said first element is in a surfacevengaging positionand said second element is out of its surface-engaging position andvsecond relative positions in which said second element is inasUIaCe-engaging position and said first element is outy of itssurface-engaging position, first means connecting said elements forrelative movement with respect to each other in a path between saidfirst and second relative positions, second means-connecting saidelements comprisin-g spring means arranged in compression between saidfirst and second elements and laterally movable intermediate its ends totwo operating positions at opposite sides of an unstable intermediateposition, said spring means in one of said two operating positions beingdefiected laterally in one direction from its unstable position tobiassaid first element to its surface-engaging position and effect movementof said second element to its out-of-surface-engaging position and inthe other of said two operating positions being deflected in an oppositedirection from its unstable position to =bias said second element to itssurfaceengaging position and effect movement of said first element toits out-of-surface-engaging position, and one of said Velementsincluding stop means for limiting the rela- .tive movement of saidelements and limiting the lateral deecting of said spring means in eachof its two operating positions.

6. A nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said second elementcomprises brush bristles and an elongated housing 'and said firstelement comprises an elongated hollow member at the underside of thehousing, the hollow member comprising spaced side walls and connectingend walls, the side walls transverse to their lengths having theirbottom edges sloping upward at an acute angle to the horizontal indirections from their interior surfaces.

7. A nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said first means connectingsaid elements comprises linkage having one part pivotally mounted onsaid second element and another part attached to said first element.

8. A nozzle as set forth in claim 7 in which said linkage comprisesaU-shaped member having its bottom pivotally mounted on said secondelement and the outer ends of its spaced arms attached to said firstelement.

9. A nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said spring means comprisesat least one leaf spring.

l0. A nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said second elementcomprises a second apertured member and said first element includes afirst member having a part projecting upward through the aperture insaid second mem-ber, said spring means being deiiected laterally in theone direction from its unstable position responsive to downward forceapplied to the upwardly extending part of said first member while thenozzle is in engagement with the surface to bias said first element toits surface-engaging position and effect movement of said second elementto its out-of-surface-engaging position.

*11. A nozzle as set forth in claim l0 in which the second aperturedmember forms a housing for said first member and said spring means isdeiiected laterally in the opposite direction from its unstable positionresponsive to downward force applied to the housing while the nozzle isink engagement with the surface to bias said second element to itssurface-engaging position and effect movement of said first element toits out-of-surfaee-engaging position.

12. A nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said second elementcomprises a second apertured member .forming a housing and said firstelement includes a first .connecting the inner ends of said leaf springsto said `iirst member adjacent to said upwardly projecting part.

13. A nozzle as set forth in claim 5 in which said second element`comprises a brush including bristles `having the outer free endsdisposed in a plane and said iirst element comprises a hollow memberhaving an air inlet, the outer free ends of the brush bristles engagingthe surface in the surface-engaging position of said second element andthe air inlet of said hollow member engaging the surface D in thesurface-engaging position of said first element, and the spring meansbeing in its intermediate unstable position when the air inlet of saidhollow member and the aforementioned brush plane are substantially atthe same level during relative movement of said elements while saidnozzle is positioned on the surface.

14. A nozzle as set forth in claim 13 in which said brush bristles havephysical properties which keep them erect when said rst element is beingbiasedy to its surface-engaging position by said spring means while thenozzle is kpositioned onthe surface.

References Cted'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,694,273 Martinet Dec. 4, 192s 1,812,493 Martinet June 30, 19312,178,427 Lang Oct. 31, 1939 2,227,299 Cr'anmer Dec. 31, 1940 2,421,661Taylor .Tune 3, 1947 2,655,682 McCarthy Oct. 20, 1953 2,814,066 LeshNov. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS France June 22, 1959

